Minty: "Now, you said publishing the book through Iboni felt like an indirect letting go of something you wished had happened. When you saw your raw feelings—that hope that consumed you—formatted into chapters and paragraphs, did seeing it in black and white make the boy feel more like a real person, or did it make him feel more like a character that you finally had the power to finish?"
[A few people in the crowd lean forward, intrigued by the distinction.]
Yvonne: "Pardon me but what do you mean 'had the power to finish'? Like he's some kind of a villain or something?"
[Minty's eyes widen slightly and she immediately raises her hands in a playful, defensive gesture, her face softening into a quick, apologetic smile.]
Minty: "Oh, gosh, no! Not a villain at all! I'm so glad you caught that—definitely not what I meant!"
[A light ripple of laughter breaks out in the audience, easing the sudden tension. Minty leans in, her voice dropping to a more grounded, peer-to-peer tone.]
Minty: "What I meant was finish in the sense of a story's conclusion. Like, when we have a crush or a 'what if' that lasts for years, the story stays open in our heads forever. By 'power to finish,' I meant the power to finally write the 'The End' on that chapter of your life. Like you're the author of your own closure now."
[Minty pauses, tilting her head curiously.]
Minty: "So, let's rephrase that: Does seeing him as a lead character in a book make those memories feel more distant and settled for you, or does it actually make the memory of him feel more alive than ever?"
[An audience member whispers to their friend, "That's a good one," while everyone waits for Yvonne's take.]
Yvonne: "Oh! I'm sorry for the misunderstanding! My bad, my bad. English is not my first language so I take the words literally, I guess."
Yvonne: "To answer your question, Minty, there are times that the memory of him is more alive than ever then there are times when it feels more like a distant memory and not the 'it felt like it just happened yesterday' kind of memory."
[Minty waves her hand dismissively with a warm, sisterly smile, letting out a little laugh to shake off the tension.]
Minty: "Please, don't apologize! Honestly, that's on me—I sometimes get a little too poetic for my own good. We're keeping it real tonight, and I love that you called me out on it!"
[The audience laughs along, appreciative of the genuine moment. One guy in the front row nods, giving a small 'It's all good!' gesture toward the stage.]
Minty: [Nodding thoughtfully at your answer]"That makes total sense. It's like the book turned the memory into a living thing—sometimes it stays quiet on the shelf, and sometimes it walks right back into the room with you. It's not a straight line, is it?"
[Minty taps her chin, looking like she's digging for the next layer of that alive feeling.]
Yvonne:[While shaking her head] "No, it's not."